The Karnataka government has officially permitted the Karnataka State Cricket Association to host the matches of the 2026 IPL season at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after the Expert committee gave the go-ahead on the 16th of March, Monday. The opening game of the 19th edition will be played at the stadium between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, the 28th of March.
In addition to this, one playoff match as well as the final would be played at the stadium. KSCA secretary Santosh Menon stated that after a thorough inspection, the expert committee that was appointed by Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara expressed satisfaction regarding the infrastructural alterations and conveyed the message to the Karnataka government, which gave permission to KSCA to host the matches at the stadium.
The expert committee that was headed by G Maheshwar Rao held a meeting with KSCA officials as well as RCB higher authorities on Monday, after which the clearance was given. RCB will play its five matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, while the other two will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
The decision to review the preparedness and security measures was made after last year’s stampede in which 11 people lost their lives at the stadium during RCB’s victory celebrations.
RCB will work closely with KSCA to provide digital QR-coded tickets to monitor overcrowding around the stadium. They are also working with Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited to ensure the crowd can travel without any problem.
BMRCL might increase the number of trains on match days and is also working on running the trains till 1:00 AM on match days. Fans who carry match tickets might be allowed to travel for free on the trains on match days. Six new gates have been constructed around the stadium, while entry gates have been widened. Near the old NCA premises, tarpaulin sheets and ramps have been constructed to ensure safe passage for the fans to enter the stands.
KSCA and Bengaluru police are coordinating with each other to clear easy vehicle movement around Cubbon Road, which is close to the main entrance of the stadium. The stadium will host its second match on the 5th of April between RCB and CSK.
The expert committee gave instructions regarding structural alterations after the KSCA elections in December, in which former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad was appointed as the President of the body.
